The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 19, 2015. The appeal is remanded for further examination regarding SMC due to the need for aid and attendance or housebound.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they were rated at less than 60% combined with other disabilities, and his age and nonservice-connected disabilities were considered. The appeal is remanded to determine if he needs regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Impairment of rectal sphincter control, Right knee arthritis, Left knee instability, Left knee arthritis, Tinnitus, Hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080548
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of jurisdiction.
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